Naliyah Kaya is the Global Proficiency Certificate Program Coordinator. Arriving at Mason in 2007, she spent three years in the Department of Sociology (as a teaching and research assistant), while completing her Master’s Degree before moving into her current position. A native of Washington State, Naliyah grew up just outside Seattle where she was drawn to learning about the myriad of cultures represented. During her time at Shoreline Community College she enjoyed attending school with classmates from numerous countries. Inspired to learn about her own heritage, she traveled to Turkey to meet her extended family where she gained an immense admiration for international and bi/multilingual students, as she struggled to communicate with limited language skills in a new environment.
Her love for students and culture has fueled her involvement as a cultural advisor with both the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) and Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) programs through the U.S. Department of State. Naliyah received her B.A. in sociology from Hampton University and is completing her Ph.D. here at Mason. During her free time she enjoys spoken word poetry, Middle Eastern dance, and watching her favorite boxer Manny Pacquiao.
Melissa Beard is the incoming GPC Program Coordinator for the 2012-2013 year. She developed an interest and passion for global cultures after living in an international dorm during her first year of college. Melissa moved to Northern Virginia from Michigan in August 2011 and began working as a graduate assistant in the Office of International Programs and Services at Mason. As an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Melissa is extremely proud of her Native American heritage. She hopes to someday inspire other Native students to obtain a higher education and utilize their talents to positively influence the Indigenous community. She is currently the president of the Native American Indigenous Alliance (NAIA) at Mason and a member of the Native American Journalist Association and the American Indian Society of Washington, DC. Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in media studies from Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. She is currently working on a PhD in cultural studies at George Mason University.
